The Best of 2007

This was a very exciting and eventful year for our family. Here are just a few of the highlights from 2007.

The year started off with Isaac's 3rd birthday on January 31st. He and his cousin, Jacob, are only 6 days apart! They had a combined birthday party complete with cousins, friends, a paper airplane flying contest, "dump truck" cake, and more presents than any 3 year old even knows what to do with!

In February, we made an emergency trip down to St. George to visit Grandpa Ence in the hospital. We were so glad that we did, because he passed away the day after we got there. We feel very blessed to have been able to know this wonderful man, and to have been able to say good-bye to him. While we were all down in St. George, my siblings and cousin decided to go hike Red Cliffs. Isaac loved being able to play in the stream, get dirty, and enjoy the outdoors (we don't do much outdoors in February in Herriman).

Isaac started playing indoor soccer this year! As you can see, he was really happy about it at first. He is such an athletic kid and was so excited about it at first, we figured he'd be the team captain and the next David Beckham. However, when he got to his first game and realized there was only one ball for all those kids, he wasn't thrilled. We started with bribes, then threats, then promises we really couldn't keep. Jason finally had to go out onto the floor with him and help him along. It only took a couple games for Isaac to figure it all out, and he ended up loving it. I don't see a soccer scholarship in his future, as he preferred to make "snow angels" on the gym floor rather than run around, but it was fun to watch!

In May, we all went down to St. George for my brother Derek's high school graduation. While we were there, my dad took Isaac fishing up on the Red Hill. He caught his very first fish! This kicked off an unreal obsession with catching and eating fish. Everyday during the summer, Isaac would beg to go fishing. So Jason bought a license, a new pole, and too many live worms to count. They spent most of their evenings up at the Herriman fishing pond and as a result, my kitchen often looked like a crime scene with all the fish blood, guts, bones, etc. At lease I know that Isaac and Alayna are chalk full of Omega 3 (or whatever it is in fish that's good for you).

The very best part of our year was our family vacation to California. And the very best part of our vacation was flying on the airplane to get there! Isaac has been big into airplanes for a while, and he was beside himself excited to actually be on one. During the take off, landing, and everything in between, he was squeeling, yelling, laughing, singing, and all but cartwheeling he was so thrilled. Alayna wasn't quite as enthusiastic to be sitting in one place for two hours, but she made it.

We loved the beach!!! Isaac and Alayna (and of course the big kid, Jason) had more fun than they knew how to handle at the beach. They all wanted to go to the beach every day, all day, so we ended up going to the beach three times. Isaac love running from the waves and being covered in sand. Alayna loved digging with her shovel and pouring sand on other people. Jason love boogie boarding, body surfing, and watching the kids play. I had fun and all, but I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as everyone else just because I was the one who had to wash sand out of the kids hair (and other places) when we were done.

We also made a quick stop at a little place called Disneyland while on vacation. It was very hot and very crowded - it was August, after all. Isaac's favorite ride was definitely that little rollercoaster in Toon Town (we waited 50 minutes in line for a 25 second ride!) and Alayna liked Small World and the Merry-go-round. Isaac was not real fond of the Matterhorn, which he went on with my mom and Jason. He still talks about the Snow Monster's red eyes, and I'm pretty sure he sees them in his sleep! He's not wanting to go back to the Haunted House any time soon, either. Alayna was not a big fan of waiting in line, but for all the people and heat and everything else, she was such a good kid! They both were!

On August 29, just a few weeks after our California trip with the family, we were able to send D off on his mission. He is serving in the Ecuador, Guayaquil South mission (which is, coincidentally, Jason's very same mission!) and he loves it. He started out in one of the same ward's Jason was in and even had dinner with a family Jason baptized. As you can bet, Jason is fairly interested in D's mission and writes him all the time. We miss the little monkey, but we know he's where he's supposed to be and that he's doing the Lord's work.

This September was the beginning of Isaac's educational journey! We started a little neighbohood Joy School this year with 6 kids and moms. I am able to teach the kids every 6 weeks, and I love it! They are all so funny and so different! Isaac is very studious and loves to learn. He also loves when people tell him he's smart, so if you ever run into him, be sure to mention how smart he is! Alayna participates in school when it's at our house and thinks she's pretty big. They sing songs, learn social skills, and do a lot of extracurricular wrestling and karate (well, at least the boys do). Isaac is very excited for Kindergarten in a couple years and then looks forward to attending Utah State and becoming a doctor, mountain climber, fisherman, pilot, and paleontologist.

While Isaac was busy learning to write, Alayna decided to study the finer points of girlhood (such as wearing make-up and hanging out with girls who are older and cooler than you.) Two of our little neighbor girls came by and gave Alayna a make over unlike any I've every seen. When they were finished she looked more like David Bowie from the 80's than my little girl. She loved it, but my carpet took a pretty big hit that day!

We all just love Halloween! From growing giant pumpkins in our backyard and entering them into contests, to dressing up in old sheets, to taking candy from strangers, it must be the greatest holiday ever!

One of the year's big highlights for me was getting together with all my old Dixie High buddies just before Thanksgiving. We all met at Suzie's house to see her new little baby boy (this makes 4 for her!). Jennie has one little girl and is currently living in Boise but should be back in Utah soon. Suzie has 3 girls and this new little boy and lives in Sugarhouse. Sarah has one little girl and will be moving to Boise next year when her husband graduates from BYU Law School. Sheryl has one little boy and is expecting a girl. She and her husband live in Mesa and will be moving to Baltimore so he can finish dental school. It was great to see everyone again, but it's crazy how things change. Watching our own kids play together is kind of Twilight Zone-esque, ya know.

We spent Christmas in St. George this year, which was fabulous once we got there. We had some major car drama on the way down, not to mention that Alayna threw up in the back seat just as we pulled into town, but it was so fun! We went hiking on the Red Hill on Christmas Eve and didn't need coats!

On Christmas morning, Alayna put on her new Beanie hat from my mom's awesome neighbor, stuck a candy cane in her mouth, and got to opening presents. She looked like this pretty much the whole time! Both kids got bikes from Santa, which they rode outside in the nice warm weather. Isaac got a dinosaur from Grandma and Grandpa Ence and Alayna got a doll house. Grandma and Grandpa Wardle gave the kids some really cute pajamas. We were able to talk to Uncle D for about 2 hours, which was about the best part of the day. All in all, it was a fabulous Christmas for our family!

Alayna's 2nd birthday was on December 28th, and was quite a party! At this point, I think she thinks that we're supposed to give her presents every couple days, because that seems to be the trend in December for her. She keeps asking for another birthday and is getting a bit disappointed that it's all over.

I actually made and decorated a cake for my daughter this year! That is a tremendous accomplishment for me, and all who know me should be proud. She had a pink cake with white frosting and poka dots, and she loved it! Pink is the only color she'll even acknowledge anymore, so she was thrilled with her cake. She was sitting there, ready to blow out the candles for a good 5 minutes before we all made it into the kitchen to sing. She had been so excited to blow out candles, but when the big moment finally arrived, she got all flustered and didn't know what to do. After a long pause and many looks of confusion, she finally got it together and blew out her candles. There was much rejoicing in the room!